Heisman Trophy winner and former Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter will not work out at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine this week in Indianapolis. However ahead of April’s draft, he made his stance to NFL teams clear that he wants to play both offense and defense at the professional level.
«They say nobody has ever done it the way I do it,» Hunter said Thursday. «But I tell them I’m just different. I am a different person.»
Hunter was listed as a defensive back when the invite list for the combine was released earlier in February. He excelled as both a cornerback and wide receiver during his college career at Colorado and FCS Jackson State. Hunter said Thursday he has had meetings as a receiver and defensive back with NFL teams this week.
«Nobody has done it, but I feel like I’ve put my body through a lot,» Hunter said. «I do a lot of treatment, people don’t get to see that part. But I know I can do it. In college football, we rarely get breaks, but there’s a lot more breaks in the NFL.»
The former No. 1 overall recruit in the 2022 class is the first player to receive the prestigious award as a dual-position standout since Charles Woodson claimed the 1997 trophy as Michigan defensive back, return specialist and part-time wide receiver.
Hunter dominated on both sides of the ball this past season at Colorado. His remarkable endurance was on full display, even while playing at high altitude in Boulder. Hunter led the Buffaloes in receiving, hauling in 96 passes for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns — enough for top-10 nationally in each category. He also had a team-high four interceptions and 11 defense passes. Hunter allowed just 205 yards receiving and one touchdown on 38 targets in pass coverage. He has ranked No. 1 nationally in pass coverage, per PFF.
Hunter played 2,625 snaps during his two seasons at Colorado despite missing nearly five games due to injury. He led the FBS in total snaps played during both the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Hunter began his college career at Jackson State in 2022, joining then-coach Deion Sanders as a five-star recruit. He shocked the college football world by flipping from Florida State during his signing ceremony, tossing aside both a Georgia and Seminoles hat before revealing a Jackson State shirt under his zip-up hoodie. Hunter spent one season at Jackson State, earning SWAC Freshman of the Year honors.
Hunter followed Sanders to Colorado prior to the 2023 season as the top-ranked transfer that portal cycle. Despite being heavily pursued by programs like Georgia, Miami and USC, Hunter stuck with Sanders in his move to the Buffaloes.